Fagraea fragrans

Roxb.

Gentianaceae

A highly variable species, some botanist do not agree with the broad concept of the species and split off two other forms as distinct species viz:-
F. gigantea - a large canopy tree with more regularly fissured bark and leaves that have an undulating margin and only 5 - 6 instead of around 8 pairs of secondary veins[

General Information

Ironwood is a slow-growing, medium-sized or occasionally large, evergreen tree with a conical crown; usually growing 8 - 25 metres tall but with some specimens attaining a height of 55 metres and the plant sometimes being no more than a shrub. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 150cm in diameter and is occasionally fluted or with buttresses up to 2.5 metres high[

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet

]
The tree yields a high quality timber and an excellent fuel and charcoal. It is planted in reforestation and soil stabilization programmes and is also often planted as an ornamental and shade tree in parks and along roads[

Range

Habitat

Light primary and secondary forest in humid or seasonally inundated locations, avoiding stagnant water. In freshwater-swamp forest, found in association with Melaleuca spp. Also occurs naturally as a pioneer in burnt-over areas and lalang grassland[

An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.

].

Properties

Medicinal Rating

Other Uses Rating

Habit

Evergreen Tree

Height

25.00 m

Growth Rate

Slow

Pollinators

Insects

Cultivation Status

Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the wet, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 400 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c[

A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.

].
Considered a useful plantation species, as it is adaptable and hardy[

A detailed guide, with excellent line-drawings, to 100 of the more important trees of Laos and Vietnam. A very good work, giving lots of information about each plant. Originally published in the journal Blumea, it is available as a PDF on the Interne

].

A decoction of twigs and leaves is used to control dysentery and severe diarrhoea[

A detailed guide, with excellent line-drawings, to 100 of the more important trees of Laos and Vietnam. A very good work, giving lots of information about each plant. Originally published in the journal Blumea, it is available as a PDF on the Interne

].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is used for reforestation purposes, at least partly due to its ability to suppress the dense cover of weeds, including Imperata cylindrica and Gleichenia linearis[

A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.

].
It occurs naturally as a pioneer in burnt-over areas and poor sites such as alang alang (Imperata cylindrica) grassland[

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

].

Other Uses

The latex found under the skin of the fruits is often used as an adhesive[

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.

]. This valuable and durable timber is used both as sawn wood as well as roundwood for posts and piles in the construction of houses, bridges and ships, and for railway sleepers, posts for electric and telephone lines, barrels, chopping blocks, furniture, cabinet work, door and windows sills and wood carvings[